**Fatshimetrie: Sacked Mobil Producing Nigeria Workers Demand Justice**
The plight of sacked workers at Mobil Producing Nigeria, Unlimited, has raised critical questions about the observance of workers’ rights in Nigeria. The sacked workers, grouped under the umbrella of the former Mobil Cleaning Service Staff and the Unified Catering Workforce, recently staged a peaceful protest to demand payment of their severance pay, which has been outstanding for 12 years.
Despite the pouring morning rain, about 100 protesters gathered at the gates of Mobil Housing Estate, located in Eket Metropolitan Area, Akwa Ibom State. Their chants and placards with slogans such as “Respect the Labour Law and the Nigerian Constitution”, “Mobil Producing Nigeria must respect the Collective Bargaining Agreement” and “Stop Human Rights and Labour Rights Abuses in Nigeria Now” reflect the workers’ determination to seek justice.
Protest leader Moses Mbong revealed that Mobil Producing Nigeria had dismissed 2,390 contract workers in cleaning and catering services between 2007 and 2017 without paying them their entitlements. The workers claim that they were treated as third parties by Mobil, while they believe they deserve their entitlements as they worked directly for the company.
Over the years, the workers have tried to assert their rights through protests and even by petitioning the House of Representatives, to no avail. They report that some have even died while waiting for their entitlements to be paid, while others are facing serious health problems.
The situation raises concerns about the disregard for workers’ rights and the responsibility of companies towards their employees. The workers stress that this injustice and disrespectful treatment cannot be tolerated any longer. They also warn of possible consequences for the safety of Mobil facilities and employees if these practices continue.
Despite our attempts to obtain a response from Mobil Producing Nigeria’s management, we have not received a response at the time of publication. This situation raises questions about corporate social responsibility and the need to respect workers’ rights in a context where compliance with labour laws and collective agreements appear to be compromised. It is essential that the dismissed workers at Mobil Producing Nigeria receive justice and that the rights of all workers are fully respected.